ROCKETS REBUILD

Media screw-up points to systemic crisis for Rockets organization

Media screw-up points to systemic crisis for Rockets organization
Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Here's how lousy things are going for the tail-spinning, last-place Houston Rockets. Earlier this week, AT&T SportsNet's website listed a game between the Houston Astros and Houston Rockets. Huh?

Astros Rockets TV Guide Photo by Ken Hoffman

They probably thought the Astros were the only team the Rockets can beat these days.

It's a distant memory lost in current despair, but the Rockets actually were pretty decent at the start of this season. On Feb. 4, the Rockets beat the Grizzlies, 115-103, on the road in Memphis. The Rockets record was 11-10, in the middle of the Western Conference standings, in solid position for a playoff spot.

Since then? Get comfortable, I'm about to go all Charlie Pallilo on you.

The Rockets proceeded to reel off a franchise-record 20 consecutive losses. Things haven't gotten any better. The Rockets now rest in peace in last place in the Western Conference with a 15-44 record, the worst mark in the entire NBA.

Let's see, 15 minus 11, carry the 1, move the decimal point, if X equals Y squared … the Rockets are 4-34 since their inexplicably competitive start.

Now 4-34 isn't just a rough patch of a typically long NBA season. It's a very large sample size, especially considering this is a shortened season with a 72-game schedule. Since that 11-10 start, the Rockets are playing at a catastrophic .105 winning percentage.

The all-time record for worst winning percentage was set by the Charlotte Bobcats in 2011-12. The Bobcats won 7 games and lost 59 for a .106 winning percentage that lockout-shortened season. The worst record for a full 82-game schedule is held by the Philadelphia 76ers, who went 9-73 for a .109 winning percentage in 1972-73.

This is some way for the Rockets to celebrate their golden anniversary in Houston. The team was born in 1967 as the San Diego Rockets and moved to H-Town in 1971.

The Rockets have earned every bit of this woeful season the hard way: new coach, new general manager, bad trades, bad behavior, no draft picks and lots and lots of injuries. But hold on, the Rockets aren't just a straight-up, won-loss dumpster fire, they're a bettor's nightmare, too. The Rockets have the NBA's worst record, 19-40, against the Vegas line. If you wagered $100 on every game for the Rockets to cover, you'd be $2,500 in the hole. If you wisely bet $100 against the Rockets every game, you'd be only $1,910 to the good. That's Vegas, you can't win for losing.

The Rockets have lost 29 games by double digits, including Wednesday night's 112-89 drubbing by the Utah Jazz at Toyota Center. The Rockets are equal opportunity floppers, with a 7-22 record at home and an almost identical 8-22 record on the road.

The Rockets aren't rebuilding, they're a demolition site. Not one Rockets player Wednesday night was on the roster last year. The Rockets aren't tanking, they're just an abysmal team.

Not one Rockets draft choice in the past 10 years is still on the team. Rockets rookies don't last long in Houston. They shouldn't buy a house or sign an apartment lease here. Smarter to find a place to stay on Airbnb.

Mercifully, the Rockets have only 13 games left this year. They will be underdogs in 12 of them. Circle April 27 on your calendar. The Rockets might be favored when the hopeless Minnesota Timberwolves visit Toyota Center. Good seats available.

Ah, but there's a silver lining to this cloudy, overcast season, right? Finishing out of the playoffs with one of the worst records should give the Rockets a top draft pick, maybe even the No. 1 overall selection, right?

Not so fast, Mr. TV Weatherman. Even if the Rockets end up dead last, they stand only a 25 percent chance of landing the first pick. Since the start of the NBA's draft lottery system in 1985, the team with the worst record got the first pick only six times.

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The Rockets are in it to win it this year. Composite Getty Image.

While the rolling Astros have a week of possible World Series preview matchups against the Phillies and Cubs, it’s the Rockets who made the biggest local sports headline with their acquisition of Kevin Durant. What a move! Of course there is risk involved in trading for a guy soon to turn 37 years old and who carries an injury history, but balancing risk vs. reward is a part of the game. This is a fabulous move for the Rockets. It’s understood that there are dissenters to this view. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, including people with the wrong opinion! Let’s dig in.

The Rockets had a wonderful season in winning 52 games before their disappointing first-round playoff loss to the Warriors, but like everyone else in the Western Conference, they were nowhere close to Oklahoma City’s caliber. While they finished second in the West, the Rockets only finished four games ahead of the play-in. That letting the stew simmer with further growth among their young players would yield true championship contention was no given for 2025-26 or beyond.

Kevin Durant is one of the 10 greatest offensive players the NBA has ever seen. Among his current contemporaries only Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokic make that list. For instance, Durant offensively has clearly been better than the late and legendary Kobe Bryant. To view it from a Houston perspective, Durant has been an indisputably greater offensive force than the amazing Hakeem Olajuwon. But this is not a nostalgia trip in which the Rockets are trading for a guy based on what he used to be. While Durant could hit the wall at any point, living in fear that it’s about to happen is no way to live because KD, approaching his 18th NBA season, is still an elite offensive player.

As to the durability concern, Durant played more games (62) this past season than did Fred VanVleet, Jabari Smith, and Tari Eason. The season before he played more games (75) than did VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, and Alperen Sengun. In each of the last two seasons Durant averaged more minutes per game (36.9) than any Rocket. That was stupid and/or desperate of the Suns, the Rockets will be smarter. Not that the workload eroded Durant’s production or efficiency. Over the two seasons he averaged almost 27 points per game while shooting 52 percent from the floor, 42 percent from behind the three-point line, and 85 percent from the free throw line. Awesomeness. The Rockets made the leap to being a very good team despite a frankly crummy half-court offense. The Rockets ranked 21st among the 30 NBA teams in three-point percentage, and dead last in free throw percentage. Amen Thompson has an array of skills and looks poised to be a unique star. Alas, Thompson has no credible jump shot. VanVleet is not a creator, Smith has limited handle. Adding Durant directly addresses the Rockets’ most glaring weakness.

The price the Rockets paid was in the big picture, minimal, unless you think Jalen Green is going to become a bonafide star. Green is still just 23 years old and spectacular athletically, but nothing he has done over four pro seasons suggests he’s on the cusp of greatness. In no season has Green even shot the league average from the floor or from three. His defense has never been as good as it should be given his athleticism. Compared to some other two-guards who made the NBA move one year removed from high school, four seasons into his career Green is waaaaaay behind where Shae Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, and Devin Booker were four seasons in, and now well behind his draft classmate Cade Cunningham. Dillon Brooks was a solid pro in two seasons here and shot a career-best from three in 2024-2025, but he’s being replaced by Kevin Durant! In terms of the draft pick capital sent to Phoenix, five second round picks are essentially meaningless. The Rockets have multiple extra first round picks in the coming years. As for the sole first-rounder dealt away, whichever player the Rockets would have taken 10th Wednesday night would have been rather unlikely to crack the playing rotation.

VanVleet signs extension

Re-signing Fred VanVleet to a two-year, 50 million dollar guarantee is sensible. In a vacuum, VanVleet was substantially overpaid at the over 40 mil he made per season the last two. He’s a middle-of-the-pack starting point guard. But his professionalism and headiness brought major value to the Rockets’ kiddie corps while their payroll was otherwise very low. Ideally, Reed Sheppard makes a leap to look like an NBA lead guard in his second season, after a pretty much zippo of a rookie campaign. Sheppard is supposed to be a lights-out shooter. For the Rockets to max out, they need two sharpshooters on the court to balance Thompson’s presence.

For Astro-centric conversation, join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday. Click here to catch!

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